Bobbin winding machine



March 6, 1951 a. A. PETERSON BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1945 Burt A. Peterson ATTORNEYS March 6, 1951 a. A. PETERSON BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filedlay 26, 1945 W 0 Ms W Tr .& w M t d um L A WW i mm M, W B U B ATTORNEYS March 6,. 1951 B. A. PETERSON noasm wmnmc ucnms 6 Shoots-Sheet 3 Filed May 26, 1945 Bobbin Loadi Position March 6, 1951 a. A. PETERSON 1 35 3 BOBBIN wmnmc cum:

Filed Hay 26, 1945 s Shaw-sheet 4 INVENTOR. Burt A. Peterson AT TORNEYS Patented Mar. 6, 1951 BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Burt A. Peterson, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barher-Colman Company, Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application May 26, 1945, Serial No. 595,971

30 Claims.

The invention pertains to high speed bobbin winding machines of the multiple unit type, and has more especial reference to machines of this character intended for use in winding delicate filament yarns requiring the exercise of special precautions in the handling of wound bobbins to avoid injury to the yarn.

The invention has for its general object the provision of a bobbin handling mechanism of novel and advantageous character so coordinated with the machine cycle that the bobbins produced by the several units in one cycle of the machine are in the next or succeeding cycle automatically delivered to individual supporting elements.

Another object is to provide in a bobbin winding machine of the multiple unit type a bobbin handling mechanism which is common to the several units, thereby reducin the manufacturing cost of the machine.

Another object is to provide a bobbin handling mechanism of the character indicated in which the bobbins discharged from the several winding units and spaced apart according to the spacing of the units are condensed into a compact relationship corresponding to the spacing of the individual supports of a pin board or the like.

A further object is to provide means of an advantageous character for presenting rows of bobbin supporting elements in position to receive wound bobbins in successive groups each of a number corresponding to the number of supporting elements in each row.

Another object is to correlate the movement into a predetermined loading position of successive groups of bobbins and supporting elements therefor.

Another object is to provide means of an advantageous character for automatically maintaining a supply of bobbincarriers of the pin board type for advance into bobbin loading position.

Still another object is to provide means for receiving and storing the loaded bobbin carriers for convenient removal by an attendant.

The objects of the invention, thus generally set forth, together with other and ancillary ad' vantages, are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a bobbin winding machine having associated therewith the improvedbobbin handling mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the 2 right-hand end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of two conveyor mechanisms utilized in the operation of condensing the wound bobbins from the spacing determined by the spacing of the winding units to that determined by the spacing of the elements on the bobbin carriers to which the bobbins are to be transferred.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the right-hand end of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale showing details of various operating mechanisms.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the construction of a swinging support utilized in delivering loaded pin boards to a storage table.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of an indexing mechanism for the bobbin carriers. 7

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken approximately in the plane of lines 9-9 and I 9-! 0, respectively, of Fig. 8, and showing details of construction.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the receiving table for loaded bobbin carriers and associated means for advancing the carriers along the table.

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram showing the control circuit for the driving motor.

Fig. 13 is a time chart.

The improved bobbin handling mechanism is especially adapted for use in a multiple unit winding machine disclosed and claimed in copending application Serial No. 450,129, filed July 8, 1942, by Brooks Marcellus, now Patent No. 2,409,639 dated October 22, 1946, and copending application Serial No. 553,507, filed September 11, 1944, by Russell P. Drake, now Patent No. 2,445,998 dated July 27, 1948. The machine, generally shown in Fig. 1, comprises briefly a series of winding units l3 arranged in uniformly spaced relation upon a suitable horizontally elongated framework ll. Each unit comprises a winding spindle IS with a unidirectionally rotated traversing cam 16 encircling the spindle and mounted upon a slide I! for movement in a direction axially of the spindle so that the yarn is wound in successive conical layers progressing gradually from one end of the bobbin to the other to produce filling wound bobbins. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, empty bobbins are received from magazines I8 (there being one for each unit) by cradles l9 forming part of a donning mechanism particularly disclosed in said Drake application. The respective cradles are mounted upon levers 28 connected for swinging movement in unison by means of a link 2| for the purpose of carrying empty bobbins into operative relation to the spindles i5.

The several units operate simultaneously and the various functions incident to the winding operations are performed automatically under the control of a common driving and control mechanism 22 enclosed within a suitable housing and forming the subject of said Marcellus application, said housing being located in the present instance at the left-hand end of the framework I4. The number of bobbins wound in each cycle of the machine may. of course, vary as may be desired. Although only a relatively small number of winding units are shown, the machine of the present embodiment is designed to produce thirty completely wound bobbins in each operating cycle.

The bobbin handling mechanism forming the subject of this invention is common to all of the winding units of the machine and is arranged for operation concurrently with each winding cycle to effect the disposal of bobbins wound. in the preceding cycle of the machine. This means ultimately receiving and storing the wound bobbins may take various forms. In the present instance the bobbins are placed upon carriers 3| (Figs. 1 and 2) of the type commonly called pin boards and consisting of a generally rectangular frame or "board" equipped with individual supporting devices 32, usually in the form of pins projecting from one face of the frame and arranged in closely spaced relation and in straight rows. For the purpose of receiving the bobbins, the pin boards are arranged to be indexed step-by-step with respect to a predetermined loading position (indicated by a legend in Fig. 2), successive rows of pins being moved into and out of such position in successive cycles. As shown, the pin boards are slidable in a vertical guideway formed by opposed uides 33 provided in upright supporting frame 34 located at the end of the winding machine opposite the drive and control mechanism 22.

Upon the completion of each winding cycle, the wound bobbins released from the several winding spindles are-deposited in a series of bobbin holders in the form of pockets 35. Although the winding units are arranged in the machine with reasonable compactness, they are of necessity spaced apart a distance substantially greater than the spacing of the pins on the pin boards, and in order that the bobbins may be loaded upon the boards in successive groups each corresponding to one row of pins on the pin board, it

is necessary that the spacing of the bobbins be reduced or condensed from that determined by the spacing of the units to that determined by the spacing of the pins. Accordingly, provision is made for the transfer of the bobbins received by the individual holder pockets 35 to a second series of holders in the form of troughs 36. Each series of carriers forms a part of a conveyor.

Thus, the pockets 35 are mounted upon endless chains 31, the troughs being spaced apart thereon according to the spacing units l3; and the troughs 36 are mounted upon endless chains 38, the troughs being spaced apart according to the spacing of the pins on the pin board.

The two conveyors are advanced in timed relation to each other, the receiving conveyor with a continuous motion and the condensing conveyor with a step-by-step motion until all of the bobbins wound in one cycle are, in the succeeding cycle, transferred in groups to successively presented rows of pins 32 on the pin boards 3|. It is thus the function of the condensing conveyor not only to arrange the wound bobbins in properly spaced relation according to the spacing of the pins on the pin board, but to carry the same in successive groups to the loading position where they are acted upon by a shifter bar 39 for effecting transfer to the pin board.

As set forth in the aforesaid Marcellus application, the mechanism for controlling the various functions of the bobbin winding machine includes a cam shaft (not shown) which is at rest during the winding cycle. Since it is during such cycle that the bobbin handling mechanism operates to effect proper disposal of the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, I employ a separate power drive coordinated with the operation of the winder proper. Herein, the power source is an electric motor 48 (Figs. 1 and 3) mounted on the frame 34. 1

The receiving conveyor extends generally horizontally beneath the winding spindles I5, with one end projecting into overlapping relation to the condensing conveyor. As shown, the receiving conveyor has two spaced parallel chains 31 (Figs. 1 and 3) operating over sprockets 4i and 42 on shafts 43 and 44. The pockets 35 are suitably supported at opposite ends upon the two chains (Fig. 2), and are shaped so as to support the tip and butt ends only of the bobbins, with the yarn mass proper out of contact with the bottom of the pocket.

The condensing conveyor likewise extends generally horizontally with one end (the left in Fig. 1) underlying the projecting end of the receiving conveyor. Here, too, the conveyor has two chains 38. These run over sprockets 45 and 46, respectively mounted on shafts 41 and 48. The troughs 36 extend transversely of the chains 38 and like the pockets 35 are shaped to support the bobbins at the tip and butt ends only so as to avoid injury to the yarn.

The receiving conveyor is arranged to be driven continuously in the operation of transferring wound bobbins to the condensing conveyor, while the latter is actuated by a step-by-step movement. For this purpose, the sprocket shaft 44 of the receiving conveyor has a belt and pulley connection 49 (Figs. 1 and 2) with a stub shaft 50, and the latter has a worm 5| meshing with a worm wheel 52 on a sprocket shaft 44. As seen in Figs. 2 and 5, the worm wheel is fast on the forward end of the sprocket shaft 44 and the rear end of the shaft has a, bevel gear connection 53 with an upright shaft 54 which in turn has a bevel gear connection 55 with a drive shaft 56 for the condensing conveyor. This latter shaft (Fig. 3) is mounted in laterally spaced parallel relation to the sprocket shaft 41 and is operatively connected with the shaft 56 by means of a Geneva stop motion. For this purpose, the shaft 56 carries an arm 51 with a roller 58 on its free end for coaction with a notched disk 59 on the sprocket shaft 41. Coacting locking disks 60 and SI on the shafts 41 and 56 maintain the two shafts in proper relation to each other.

At the end of each winding cycle, the wound bobbins are released from their respective winding spindles and deposited in the underlying pockets 35 of the receiving conveyor. Thereupon,

the circuit to thedrlve motor 48 is closed in retion to successively presented troughs 36 of the condensing conveyor, which is being advanced by the Geneva gear 51, 59. In the present embodiment of the invention the troughs 36 move into a receiving position directly below the delivery position of the pockets 35. To hold the bobbins in the pockets 35 while the latter are moved around the ends of the conveyor to the delivery position, two arcuate guide arms 63 and 64 are supported at the right-hand end of the conveyor in front-to-rear spaced relation so as to be engageable respectively by the tip and butt ends of the bobbins.

From the condensing conveyor the wound bobbins are transferred to the pins 32 on the pin boards in groups of ten, there being in the present instance five rows of pins on each pin board and ten pins in each row. For this purpose, the troughs 36 are supported for endwise slidin movement by means of elongated slide bars 65 mounted in guides 66 on the chains 38 and providing opposed channels for engaging opposite edges of the bars.

Actuation of the slide bars to effect transfer of the bobbins to the pins is accomplished by the shifter bar 39 timed for operation following the advance into the loading position of successive groups of ten bobbins, and the concurrent movement of successive rows of pins 32 into such position. The shifter bar 39 is mounted on a pair of arms 61 fast on the rockshaft 68 (Figs. 1 and 4) and is shaped for engagement with forwardly projecting ends of the slide bars 65 as shown in Fig. 4. Rocking motion is imparted to the shaft 68 by means of a cam 69 acting upon a lever I8. The lever has a gear segment II on its rear end meshing with a pinion I2 fast on the rockshaft 68. Between its ends the lever I8 carries the roller I3 engaging in a cam groove I4 in one face of the cam 69.

The cam 69 is fast upon a slow speed shaft I6 having a bevel gear connection 11 (Fig. 5) with a stub shaft IIa driven from the sprocket shaft 44 of the receiving conveyor at an appropriately reduced speed. As herein shown, the driving connection comprises spur gearing I8. .1 this construction, the shifter bar 39 is actuated once for each advance of ten pins into the loading position.

Pin boards are supplied to the lower ends of the guide 33 (Fig. 2) and then indexed vertically to carry successive rows of pins into the loading position, by means including a pin board conveyor I9 and an indexing'mechanism 88 (Figs. 2, 6 and 8), both being driven from the slow speed shaft I6 and operating in timed relation to the shifter bar 39.

The pin board conveyor I9 comprises two parallel chains 8| (Figs. 1 and 2) supported by sprockets 82 and respectively carrying retaining devices 83 yieldably engaging the lower edge portions of the pin boards. The devices 83 are in the form of U-shaped clips and these are uniformly spaced apart along the chain a distance slightly in excess of that necessary to accommodate the pins 32.

The conveyor I9 is advanced step-by-step to carry the pin boards into alincment with the guides'33 by suitable means, preferably comprising an actuating gear segment 84 (Fig. 6) fast on a continuously rotating shaft 85 and operative once in each revolution of said shaft to engage a pinion 81' rigid with one of the chain sprocket shafts 82a. Fast on the respectiveshafts 82a and 85 are coacting locking disks 88 and 89. The disk- 89 is generally rectangular in form and the disk 88 has a recess 98 in its peripheral edge in the region of the actuating segment 84, adapted to receive the successive corner portions of the disk 89 as the gear segment movesinto engagement with the pinion 81. It will be seen that an advancing or stepping movement is imparted to the pin board conveyor once for each revolution of the disk 88, and that between successive actuations the chain is positively held against movement, the arrangement being such that with each movement of the conveyor the pin board is moved into alincment with and positively held with respect to the guides 33. In order that the pin boards may be moved into position in the guides 33, the lower ends thereof open laterally as at 33a (Fig. 10)

The indexing means 88 whereby the pin boards presented to the guides 33 are advanced vertically step-by-step to present successive rows of pins to the loading position comprises in the present embodiment of the invention two arms 9| (Figs. 2 and 6) pivoted at 92 and respectively carrying followers 93 engaging in grooves 94 of two identical face cams 95. These cams are mounted on a shaft 98 (Fig. 1) carrying a pinion 91 at one end meshing with a gear 98 on the shaft so as to be timed with the pin board indexing mechanism.

Rocking motion imparted to the arms 9| is transmitted to the pin boards to advance them vertically by means of gear segments 99 on the arms meshing with racks I 88 upon which are mounted pawls I8I (Fig. 8) for coaction directly with the pin boards. As best shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the racks I88 are slidable in suitable guid' ways I82 and the pawls are pivotally supported upon the racks so as to swing inwardly under the force of spring pressed pins I83 so as to engage with notches I84 in the opposite side edges of the pin boards. As seen in Fig. 8, the notches I84 are spaced apart according to the spacing of the rows of pins 32. To retain the boards in advanced position against the action of gravity, spring pressed retaining pawls I85 are pivoted on the guide members 33, the latter being appropriately recessed as at I86 to accommodate the pawls.

As previously indicated, the presentation of the pin boards to the guides and the indexing of the boards along the guides is timed with respect to the operation of the shifter bar 3.9 by which the bobbins are transferred in groups to the rows of pins on the pin boards. In the present instance the pin boards are advanced horizontally into operative association with the guides 33 once for each five vertical indexing movements, there being in the present instance five rows of pins on each pin board.

The drive for the two indexing mechanisms is herein derived from the shifter bar cam shaft I6. As shown, it comprises an inclined shaft I8I (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted in brackets I88 and I89 and having bevel gearing connections H8 and III with the cam shaftsl6 and 96 respectively. These two shafts being driven at the same speed cause a vertical indexing movement to be imparted to the pin boards once for each reciprocation of the shifter bar 39. On the other hand, the ratio between the gears 91 and 93 (Fig. 6) is such as to advance the pin boards horizontally one step for each five vertical steps of the pin board. It will be understood that the pin board guides 33 are of sufllcient length vertically to accommodate simultaneously a number of pin boards arranged in edge-to-edge relation, all of the pin boards being advanced in unison by the indexing of thelowermost board.

Upon reaching the top of the guides 33 the uppermost pin board may be removed manually,

but preferably means is provided whereby they are delivered automatically by means of a swinging support II2 to a receiving table. The latter provides a horizontally elongated slideway or shelf II3 (Figs. 1, 7 and 11) having associated therewith a conveyor mechanism II4 whereby the pin boards are advanced along the table or slideway.

The operations of the swinging support I I2 and the conveyor mechanism II4 are of course timed with respect to the vertical indexing of the pin boards. The support provides a pair of guides II 5 respectively constituting extensions of the guides 33 when the support is in its vertical position (Figs. 2 and 7). As shown, these guides 5 are mounted upon the ends of the plate I I6 which in turn is carried by arms I I! on a rockshaft II3.

Actuation of the rockshaft following the indexing of the pin boards vertically a plurality of times (herein five) is effected through an operative connection with the pin board supply mechanism and more particularly the driving means therefor. Thus, as shown in Figs. 2 and 11, the rockshaft II8 of the swinging support has a pinion III) with which meshes a rack bar I20 mounted for vertical sliding movement in the frame members 34 rearwardly of the guides 33. At its lower end, the bar I20 is toothed for engagement with a gear segment I2I (Fig. 6) carried on an arm I22 which is arranged for actuation by a face cam I23 on the shaft 85, the cam having a groove I24 receiving a follower I25 on the lever arm I22. Since the shaft 05 makes one revolution for each forward movement of the pin boards by the pin board supply conveyor, a corresponding swinging movement is imparted to the support H2 to deliver the uppermost pin board to the receiving table I I3.

The extent of swinging movement of the support I I2 is such as to cause the support to be inclined rearwardly and somewhat downwardly so that the pin board will slide rearwardly by gravity onto the receiving table I I3, the latter being correspondingly inclined (Fig. 2). To support the pin board against downward movement relative to the support during swinging movement of the latter, I employ a pair of arcuate slide members I26 suitably attached to the upright frame members 34.

The receiving table I I3 may be supported in any suitable or preferred manner. As shown, it is carried by brackets I21 and I 23 on the frame members 34 (Figs. 2 and 11) and by an auxiliary bracket I29 carried by the framework IL, The table is formed with longitudinal edge flanges I30 and transverse flanges I3I and I32, the latter serving to guide the pin boards as they are received from the carrier H2, and the former serving to guide the pin boards along the table.

For advancing the pin boards along the table II3 a feed chain I33 is mounted upon sprockets I34 and I35 so that its upper run travels in a slot 8 I33 on the table. Lugs I31 carried by the chain engage with one end of the pin board upon delivery to the table (Fig. 2) for the p se of advancing the same together with preceding pin boards. One of the sprockets I34 is fast on a horizontal shaft I33 connected by bevel gearing I33 to a vertical shaft I40 (Fig. 2) rigid with the shaft 34 so as to be driven from the shaft 44 by the bevel gearing 03. 1 It will be understood that the arrangement is such that upon delivery of a filled pin board to the receiving table I I3 it is engaged by a lug I31 and advanced along the table a distance corresponding to the length of the pin board while the succeeding pin board is being carried upwardly into the swinging support III and swung rearwardly therewith for delivery onto the table.

The operation of the bobbin handling mechanism is initiated in the advance of one of the traverse slides I'I, herein the extreme right-hand slide in Fig. 1 designated IIa. This occurs at the beginning of the winding cycle through the closure of a switch I (Figs. 2 and 12) by a cam bar I42. It is stopped upon the transfer to one or more pin boards of all of the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, by means of a switch I43 controlled by a rotary cam I44, the latter being mounted on a stub shaft I45 which in turn is driven from the shaft I6 through reducing spur gearing I46 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4). The cam I 44 has a notch I4I receiving the movable contact of the switch I43 so as to permit opening of the same to interrupt the circuit to the drive motor 40.

Referring to the wiring diagram (Fig. 12), as

the traverse slide I'Ia is advanced at the begin-- ning of the winding cycle, it closes switch I. Since the stopping switch I43 is open at this time, having been opened during the preceding mechanism cycle, the motor circuit is temporarily established through a time delay switch I48 in shunt with the switch I43. This latter switch is of a well known character, being shown only diagrammatically in Fig. 12. It includes a solenoid I49 which is operatively connected with the movable contact member of switch I43 and with a dashpot I49a, the arrangement being such that when the solenoid is energized, the switch I48 remains closed for a predetermined time interval sufllcient to permit of the closure of the switch I43 by the cam I44. Thereafter, the switch I43 is opened so as to place the cam switch I43 in control of the motor circuit for the purpose of stopping the mechanism at the end of the mechanism cycle. The solenoid I43, however, remains energized until switch I is opened by th return to its initial position of the traverse slide IIa following completion of the winding cycle under the control of the driving and control mechanism 22 of the winder. Opening of switch I, deenergizing solenoid I43, permits closure of switch I43 by the action of a spring I50, thereby conditioning the motor circuit for the next mechanism cycle. I5| designates a manually controlled switch in the motor circuit for emergency purposes.

Summary of operation-Referring now to the time chart, Fig. 13, the operation may be summarized briefly as follows: Upon the completion of a winding cycle, wound bobbins are released by their respective winding units in the manner set forth in said Marcellus application Serial No. 450,129, and drop by gravity into the awaiting pockets 35 of the receiving conveyor 31. Upon the initiation of the next winding cycle, the traversing cam slide "a moves forwardly and .9 closes szvitch Ill as indicated at Illa. in the time chart. Time delay switch I48 being closed, the circuit to the motor is established, first through this switch and then through switch I43 closed as indicated at Illa by the rotation of cam disk I.

Immediately upon closure of the motor circuit the receiving and condensing conveyors are actuated to effect the transfer successively of the wound bobbins in the pockets 35 to the troughs 36, this occurring at intervals indicated at 31a. In this operation, the receiving conveyor is advanced continuously at high speed through a direct driving connection with the motor including worm gearing 5|, 52. The condensing conveyor is advanced with a step-by-step movement through the medium of the Geneva gear 58, 59 as indicated at 38a.

Upon the presentation of successive groups of ten bobbins each to the loading position, th

shifter bar 39 is actuated by the cam 69 as indicated at 69a in the time chart. Successive groups of bobbin holding troughs 36 are thus slid rearwardly so as to force successive groups of bobbins onto rows of bobbin supporting elements or pins 32 successively presented to the loading position, the shifter bar being immediately retracted after each advance, as indicated at 6%.

There being ten pins in each row, the actuation of the shifter bar is repeated three times in each mechanism cycle until thirty bobbins have been transferred to three rows of pins.

In timed relation to each actuation of the shifter bar 39 and occurring immediately after the retraction of the bar, the cams 95 operate to impart an upward indexing movement to the lowermost pin board 3| and therefore to those above it, as indicated at 95a. In this movement,

the cams operate upon the lever arm 9| to actuate the slide rack members I carrying indexing pawls IIII, the pin board being retained in advanced position by the retaining pawls I05.

Upon the elevation of the lowermost pin board a distance equal to its length measured vertically, a new pin board is supplied to the lower ends of the guides 33 by the operation of the supply conveyor 19 actuated by the rotating gear segment 84 in cooperation with the pinion 81. Stepping movements are imparted to this conveyor once for each five vertical indexing movements of the pin boards, as indicated at 84a, the advancing movement occurring at a point approximately midway between the two vertical indexing movements.

Upon arrival of each pin board into its uppermost position within the extensions H of the guides 33, the swinging support H2 is swung into a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position by the cam I23 as indicated at I23a. After a short dwell I23b in this position, provided to allow the pin board to slide rearwardly onto the slideway or table II3, the support is returned to vertical position by the cam as indicated at I230. The pin board is then engaged by one of the lugs I3I of the conveyor chain I33, this chain being operated continuously during the mechanism cycle through its connection with the sprocket shaft 44 of the receiving conveyor.

When all of the bobbins wound in one cycle, herein 30, have been delivered to three successively presented rows of pins 32, the mechanism cycle is terminated by the operation of the cam I44 opening switch I 43 at IMb. Switch I48, however, remains open pending closure by the spring 10 I 50 upon the opening of switchIlI at III!) by the return of the traverse cam slide Ila.

It will be seen that the bobbin handling mechanism is initiated by the advance of the traversing cam slide closing switch I, is stopped by cam switch I43, and is conditioned for the next'cycle by the return of the traverse slide. Thus, while one set of bobbins is being wound, rapid and e1- fectual disposition is made of the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle of the winding machine.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bobbin winding machine having a-series of uniformly spaced winding units, a bobbin handlin mechanism for delivering dofl'ed bobbins from the windin units onto carriers providing a plurality of bobbin supporting elements arranged in a plurality of rows and spaced apart in each row a distance less than the spacing of said winding units, said mechanism comprising a receiving conveyor having a first series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of the winding units and each adapted to receive a wound bobbin from one of the winding units, a condensing conveyor having a second series of bobbin. holders spaced apart according to thespacing of the bobbin supporting elements on said carriers, means for causing the transfer of the wound bobbins successively from the holders of the first series to the holders of the second series, and means for deliverin bobbins from said second series of holders onto the supporting elements of the carrier.

2. In a bobbin winding machine having a series of uniformly spaced winding units, a bobbin handling mechanism for delivering doffed bobbins from the winding units onto carriers providing a plurality of bobbin supporting elements arranged in a plurality of rows and spaced apart in each row a distance less than the spacing of said winding units, said mechanism comprising a receiving conveyor having a first series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of the winding units and each adapted to ,V receive a wound bobbin from one of the winding 1 units, a condensing conveyor having a second series of bobbin holders spaced apart according series of holders onto the supporting elements of the carrier when in said loading position.

3. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, mechanism operative inone cycle for transporting and storing the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism comprising means for advancing into and out of a predetermined loading p0- sition'successively a plurality of groups of bobbin supporting elements arranged in rows, means carrying successive groups of wound bobbins from said winding units to said loading position with the bobbins spaced apart according to the spacing of said elements in their respective rows, and means acting upon the successive groups of bobbins in such loading position to deliver the same to successive rows of supporting elements.

4. A bobbin windin machine having a plu= other, means operative in the actuation of the conveyors to cause the successive transfer of wound bobbins from the bobbin holders of the receiving conveyor to the bobbin holders of the condensing conveyor, and meansoperatively associated with the condensing conveyor for removing wound bobbins therefrom in successive groups.

5. A bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units uniformly spaced apart horizontally, a horizontally disposed receiving conveyor having a series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of said winding units and underlying the same for the reception of a series of wound bobbins, a horizontally disposed condensing conveyor having one end portion disposed in juxtaposed relation to the receiving conveyor, said condensing conveyor having a series of bobbin holders, means for driving the two conveyors in timed relation to each other, means operative in the actuation of the conveyors to cause the successive transfer of a group of wound bobbins from the bobbin holders of the receiving conveyor to the bobbin holders of the condensing conveyor, means actuated in timed relation to the condensing conveyor presentin a group of bobbin supporting as to position the successive bobbin holders of the condensing conveyor opposite the holders of the condensing conveyor successively, said bobbin holders of the receiving conveyor moving through an arcuate path from a normal receiving to an inverted delivery position, and means retaining the bobbins in the receiving conveyor during such arcuate movement thereof.

8. In a bobbin winding machine having a plulO -rality of winding units uniformly spaced apart elements in a predetermined loading position, I

and means operatively associated with the condensing conveyor for transferring said group of wound bobbins therefrom to said group of supporting elements.

6. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units uniformly spaced apart horizontally. a bobbin handling mechanism comprising a horizontally disposed receiving conveyor having a series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of the windin units and underlying the same for the reception of a series of wound bobbins, a horizontally disposed condensing conveyor positioned with one end adjacent to an end of the receiving conveyor and having a second series of bobbin. holders spaced apart a relatively shorter distance than the holders of the receiving conveyor, and means for driving the two conveyors at relative speeds such as to carry the successive bobbin holders of the receiving conveyor in delivering relation to the successive holders of the condensing conveyor successively.

7. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units uniformly spaced apart horizontally, a bobbin handling mechanism comprising a horizontally disposed receiving conveyor having a series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of the winding units and underlying the same for the reception of a series of wound bobbins, a horizontally disposed condensing conveyor positioned with one end in underlying relation to an end of the receiving conveyor and having a second series of bobbin holders spaced apart a relatively shorter distance than the holders of the receiving conveyor, means for driving the two conveyors at relative speeds such horizontally, a bobbin handling mechanism comprising a horizontally disposed receiving conveyor having a, series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of the winding units and underlying the same for the reception of a series of wound bobbins, a horizontally disposed condensing conveyor positioned with one end adJacent to an end of the receiving conveyor and having a second series of bobbin holders spaced apart a relatively shorter distance than the holders of thefreceiving conveyor, means for driving the receiving conveyor with a continuous motion and the condensing conveyor with a stepby-step motion, and means operative upon the bobbins successively as they approach the end of the receiving conveyor for delivering the same to the condensing conveyor whereby the bobbin holders of the latter conveyor are presented successively into opposed relation to the successive holders of the receiving conveyor.

9. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units uniformly spaced apart horizontally, a bobbin handling mechanism comprising a horizontally disposed receiving conveyor having a series of bobbin holders spaced apart accordingto the spacing of the winding units for receiving wound bobbins therefrom, means for driving the receiving conveyor with a continuous motion to carry the bobbin holders thereon to a predetermined delivery position at one end of the conveyor, a condensing conveyor having a second series of bobbin holders thereon uniformly spaced apart a distance less than the spacing of the first bobbin holders and supported for movement to said delivery position successively, means for actuating the condensing conveyor with a step-by-step motion and in timed relation to the receiving conveyor, and means for effecting the delivery of the bobbins from the successive holders of the receiving conveyor to successive holders of the condensing conveyor.

10. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units uniformly spaced apart horizontally, a bobbin handling mechanism comprising a series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of the winding units to receive wound bobbins therefrom and supported for movement successively to a predetermined delivery position, a second series of bobbin holders uniformly spaced apart a distance different from the spacing of the first series of bobbin holders and supported for movement successively into a receiving position, and means for advancing the two series of bobbin holders so as to correlate the arrival of the bobbin holders thereof into said delivery and receiving positions.

11. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units uniformly spaced apart horizontally, a bobbin handling mechanism comprising a series of bobbin holders spaced according to the spacing of the winding units to receive wound bobbins therefrom and supported for movement successively to a predetermined delivery position, a second series of bobbin holders uniformly spaced a distance less than the spacing of the flrstseries of holders and also supported for movement into a predetermined position relative to said delivery position, means for advancing the first series of holders with a conrelated with the continuous motion of the first series of holders to efiect the simultaneous arrival of successive holders of each of said series to their said positionsrespectively.

12. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units uniformly spaced apart horizontally, a bobbin handling mechanism for transferring a. roup of wound bobbins from the winding units simultaneously to a bobbin carrier having a row of closely spaced supporting elements, said mechanism comprising a series of bobbin holders spaced according to the spacing of the winding units and supported for movement successively to a predetermined delivery position, a second series of bobbin holders uniformly spaced a distance corresponding to the spacing of said supporting elements and also supported for movement.to a predetermined positionrelative to said delivery position. means for advancing the first series of holders with a continuous motion, means for advancing the second series of holders with a step-by-step motion correlated with the continuous motion of the first series of holders to efiect the simultaneous arrival in their respective predetermined positions of successive holders of each of said series, and means operative upon a group of wound bobbins in said second series of holders to transfer the same to a corresponding group of said supporting elements.

13. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, mechanism operative in one cycle for transporting and storing the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism comprising means for advancing with a step-by-step motion successive rows of bobbin supporting elements into a predetermined loading position, means for delivering successive groups of wound bobbins to said loading position including a series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of said supporting elements in their respective rows and means for advancing the bobbin holders with a step-by-step motion, and means timed with respect to the advancing movements of the groups of supporting elements and bobbins to transfer the latter to the supporting elements.

14, In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, mechanism operative in one cycle for transporting and storing the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism comprising means for advancing successive rows of supporting elements into a predetermined loading position, means for delivering successive groups of wound bobbins to said loading position including a series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of said supporting elements in their respective rows, and means timed with respect to the advancing movements of the groups of supporting elements and bobbins to transfer the latter to the supporting elements.-

15. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, mech- 14 anism operative in one cycle for transporting and storing the, bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism comprising means for advancing with a step-,by-step motion successive rows of supporting elements into a predetermined loading position, means for successively delivering successive groups of wound bobbins to said loading position including a' conveyor having a series of bobbin holders spaced according to the spacing of the supporting elements and mounted for movement in a direction transversely of the conveyor, said supporting elements being disposed while in said loading position at one side of said conveyor, and means operating in timed relation to the arrival of the supporting elements and bobbins in said loading position to shift the bobbin holders whereby to transfer the bobbins therein to .said supporting elements.

16. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, mechanism operative in one cycle for transporting and storing the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism comprising means for advancing successive rows of supportin elements into a predetermined loading position, means for successively delivering successive groups of wound bobbins to said loading position including a conveyor having a series of bobbin holders spaced according to the spacing of the supporting elements and mounted for movement in a direction transversely of the conveyor, said supporting elements being disposed while in said loading position at one side of said conveyor, and means operating in timed relation to the arrival of groups of supporting elements and bobbins in said loading position to shift the bobbin holders whereby to transfer the bobbins therein to said supporting elements.

1'7. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, mechanism operative in one cycle for transporting and storing the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle,

'ccnprising a frame providing guideways for slidably receiving opposite edges of pin boards having rows of bobbin supporting elements thereon with the boards in end-to-end relation, means for imparting indexing movements to the pin boards to present successive rows of supporting elements to a predetermined loading position, a conveyor having a series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of the supporting elements in each row, means for delivering wound bobbins to said holders, means for advancing the conveyor to present successive rows of bobbins to said loading position, and means operating in timed relation to the movement of the supporting elements and bobbins into said loading posi tion to transfer the bobbins to the supportin elements.

18. A bobbin handling mechanism for bobbin winding machines comprising, in combination, an upright frame providing a guideway for bobbin carriers having individual supporting elements arranged in horizontal rows, indexing means for advancing bobbin carriers along the uideway, means operative at a predetermined point in the travel of the carriers to deliver groups of wound bobbins-to successive rows of supporting elements, and means timed with respect to said indexing means for supplying additional bobbin carriers to the guideways at the lower end of said frame, a

horizontally disposed slideway mounted near the swinging support normally constituting an extension of said guideway, and means timed with said indexing means for swinging said support to transfer a loaded carrier onto said slideway.

19. A bobbin handling mechanism for bobbin winding machines comprising, in combination, an upright frame providing a guideway for bobbin carriers havin individual supporting elements arranged in horizontal rows, indexing means for advancing bobbin carriers along the guideway, means operative at a predetermined point in the travel of the carriers to deliver groups of wound bobbins to successive rows of supporting elements,'means timed with respect to said indexing means for supplying additional bobbin carriers to the guideways at the lower end of said frame, a horizontally disposed slideway mounted near the upper end of said frame at one side thereof, -a swinging support normally constituting an extension of said guideway, and means timed with said indexing means for swinging said support to transfer a loaded carrier onto said slideway, said slideway being inclined downwardly with respect to the guideway, and said swinging support being movable into an inclined position corresponding with the inclination of the slideway.

20. A bobbin handling mechanism for bobbin winding machines comprising, in combination, an upright frame providing a guideway for bobbin carriers having individual supporting elements arranged in horizontal rows, indexing means for advancing bobbin carriers along the guideway, means operative at a predetermined point in the travel of the carriers to deliver groups of wound bobbins to successive rows of supporting elements, means timed with respect to said indexing means for supplying additional bobbin carriers to the guideways at the lower end of said frame, storage means at the upper end of said frame for receiving loaded carriers, a swinging support normally constituting an extension of said guideway, and means timed with said indexing means for swinging said support to transfer a loaded carrier to said storage means, said storage means including an elongated table providing a, slideway for filled carriers, and a conveyor operatively associated with said table and timed with respect to said indexing means for advancing filled carriers along the table.

21. A bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units each including a winding spindle and operating in successive winding cycles to produce a set of wound bobbins, bobbin storage means including a plurality of bobbin holders for individually supporting wound bobbins, and a transfer mechanism operative automatically as an incident to the initiation of one winding cycle to deliver to holders of said storage means the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle.

22. In a, bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, a bobbin handling mechanism common to all of said winding units and operative in one cycle of the machine to receive and store the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism having drive means independent of that of the winding machine includin a motor, a control circuit for the motor having a starting switch closed as an incident to the commencement of each winding cycle, a stopping switch automatically operated upon the completion of a predetermined operating cycle of said mechanism, and a time delay switch in shunt with said stopping switch and automatically closed upon the completion of each winding cycle to condition said circuit for the'nex't cycle of said mechanism.

23. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, a bobbin handling mechanism common to all of said winding units and operative in one cycle of the machine to receive and store the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism having drive means independent of that of the winding machine including a motor, a control circuit for the motor, means operative as an incident to the initiation of each winding cycle to close said circuit, means including a driven member foropening the motor circuit to stop the motor upon the completion of an operating cycle of said mechanism, and means responsive to the completion of each winding cycle for conditioning said circuit for starting of said motor notwithstanding the interruption thereof by said stopping means.

24. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, a bobbin handling mechanism common to all of said winding units and operative in one cycle of the machine to receive and store the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism having drive means independent of that of the winding machine including a motor, a control circuit for the motor, means including a member driven by said motor for opening said circuit to stop the motor, and means responsive to the completion of each winding cycle for conditioning said circuit for the starting of said motor notwithstanding the interruption thereof by said stopping means.

25. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, a bobbin handling mechanism common to all of said winding units and operative in one cycle of the machine to receive and store the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism having drive means independent of that of the winding machine including a motor, a control circuit for the motor having a starting switch closed as an incident to the commencement of each winding cycle, and a stopping switch for the motor automatically operated upon the completion of a predetermined operating cycle of said mechanism.

26. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, a bobbin handling mechanism common to all of said winding units and operative in one cycle of the machine to receive and store the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism having drive means independent of that of the winding machine including a motor, a control circuit for the motor, and means operative as an incident to the initiation of each winding cycle to close said circuit to start said motor.

27. In a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of spaced winding units operative simultaneously to wind a plurality of bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring wind- 17 ing cycles, mechanism operative in one cycle for transporting and storin the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism comprising a conveyor operative to advance successive groups of bobbin supporting elements into a predetermined loading position with the elements in predetermined spaced relation, means including a second conveyor for receiving wound bobbins wound by said units with the bobbins arranged in spaced relation according to the spacing of said bobbin supporting elements, means for advancing the second conveyor to present successive groups of bobbins to said loading position, and means operating in timed relation to said conveyors for transferring the bobbins of each group thus presented to the loading position to said supporting elements simultaneously.

28. A bobbin windin machine having a pmrality of winding units arranged in uniformly spaced relation and operative in each of a series of recurring winding cycles to produce a set of wound bobbins, bobbin storage means providing a plurality of spaced bobbin holders for individually supporting wound bobbins, and a transfer mechanism operative automatically as an incident to the initiation of one winding cycle to deliver to said storage means the set of bobbins wound in the preceding cycle, said mechanism including' a conveyor having bobbin carriers spaced apart according to the spacing of the veyor having bobbin carriers spaced apart in accordance with the spacing of said winding units and operable to transfer the wound bobbins therefrom to the first conveyor, and means operative in timed relation to said second conveyor for transferring the wound bobbins thereon to said holders of the storage means. I

29. The combination with a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative in a series of automatically recurring winding cycles to wind, and doflf groups of bobbins, mechanism operative in one cycle for storing the group of bobbins wound in the preceding cycle comprising means for supporting for movement in a predetermined path a series of bobbin carriers having rows of individual bobbin supporting elements thereon, means for indexing the bobbin carriers to present successive rows of supporting elements to a predetermined loading position in said path, a conveyor having a series of bobbin holders spaced apart according tothe spacing of the supporting elements in each row, means for advancing the conveyor to present successive rows of bobbins to said loadin position, and means operating in timed relation to the movement of the supporting elements and bobbins into said loading position to transfer the bobbins from the conveyor to the supporting elements.-

30. The combination with a bobbin winding machine having a plurality of winding units operative simultaneously to wind a groupof bobbins in each of a series of automatically recurring winding cycles, mechanism operative in one cycle for storing the bobbins wound in the preceding cycle comprising means for supporting for movement in a, predetermined path bobbin carriers having rows of individual bobbin supporting elements thereon projecting to one side of said path, means for indexing the bobbin carriers to present successive rows of supporting elements to a predetermined loading position in said path, a conveyor having a series of bobbin holders spaced apart according to the spacing of the supporting elements in each row and disposed at one side of said path, means for advancing the conveyor to present successive rows of bobbins to said loading position, means operating in timed relation to the movement of the supporting elements and bobbins into said loading position to transfer the bobbinsinto said loading position to transfer the bobbins from the conveyor to the supporting elements, and means for automatically delivering bobbin carriers to said supporting means in operative association with said indexing holders of said storage means, a second conmeans including a second conveyor having a plurality of carrier holders mounted for movement in a direction perpendicular to said path, and drive means for said second conveyor opera tive to advance the carriers step by step toward said supporting means.

BURT A. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,288 Novotny Dec, 5, 1939 1,090,855 Jagenberg Mar. 24, 1914 1,869,767 Nagle et al Aug. 2, 1932 1,991,699 Reiners et al. Feb. 19, 1935 2,029,563 Elkington Feb. 4, 1936 2,075,544 Reiners et a1. Mar. 30, 1937 2,175,560 Friden Oct. 10, 1939 2,247,718 Treckmann July 1, 1941 2,277,688 Cattonar et a1 Mar. 31, 1942 2,302,715 Reynolds et a1 Nov. 24, 1942 2,358,447 Creamer Sept. 19, 1944 2,400,484 Campana May 21, 1946 i FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain July 24, 1943 

